Bucephalidae (Trematoda) in Fishes of the Northern Gulf of Mexico: Bucephalus Baer, 1827

Abstract

A total of 614 fishes representing 103 species from the northern Gulf of Mexico were examined for infections of trematodes in the family Bucephalidae. Five species of Bucephalus Baer, 1827, were collected. One new species is described and the description of B. cynoscion Hopkins, 1956, and B. gorgon (Linton, 1905) Eckmann, 1932, augmented. New locality records are also given for B. gorgon, B. scorpaenae Manter, 1940, and B. varicus Manter, 1940. Studies on the digenetic trematodes of the Gulf of Mexico have been primarily concerned with the prosostomes and for the most part have only touched upon the family Bucephalidae. With the exception of the work by Manter (1934, 1940) and Hopkins (1954), most reports have been confined to sporadic accounts of new species. The following report is a portion of the results from a survey of representatives of 103 fish species from the northern Gulf of Mexico. Bucephalus brevitentaculatus n. sp. Figures 1-3 DIAGNOSIS (measurements in mm based on ten specimens): Body spinous, elongate 1.03 (0.66-1.33) x 0.326 (0.264-0.374); anterior sucker 0.108 (0.075- 0.125) x 0.072 (0.065-0.101); seven short, bluntly tapered tentacles embellish anterior end; protruded tentacles 0.013 x 0.007; basal or tentacular papillae ab- sent; frequently, all but the two lateral tentacles retracted and the remaining five are exceedingly difficult to detect; pharynx post-equatorial but within mid- dle one-third of body, 0.066 (0.057-0.078) x 0.081 (0.080-0.093); esophagus di- rected anteriorly; thick-walled intestine recurved, directed posteriorly, 0.097 (0.081-0.104) x 0.079 (0.073-0.088); testes subspherical, dextrally tandem in middle one-third of body, contiguous or overlapping; 0.115 (0.101-0.132) x 0.098 (0.080-0.127); cirrus pouch sinistral, extending from equatorial plane to sub- terminal genital atrium, 0.386 (0.310-0.440) x 0.078 (0.065-0.088); internal semi- nal vesicle ovoid or cylindrical, 0.090 (0.086-0.104) x 0.042 (0.026-0.065); cirrus with two lobes projecting into genital atrium; genital pore subterminal, 0.068 posterior to genital atrium; ovary subspherical, at dextral level of intestine, and close proximity to anterior testis, 0.075 (0.060-0.094) x 0.073 (0.065-0.080); Mehlis' gland and ootype posterolateral to ovary; Laurer's canal extending to level of dorsal, posterior border of anterior testis; uterus filling much of body space posteriorly and extending anteriorly into intervitelline field but seldom exceeding anterior limit of vitellaria; vitellaria composed of two groups of about 15 follicles each in anterior one-half of body; each follicular group arches toward midline and may appear as a continuous arch; eggs thick-shelled, 0.020 x 0.013; excretory bladder thin-walled, extending from terminal pore to a point slightly anterior to pharynx. HOST: Trichiurus lepturus Linnaeus. HABITAT: Gastric ceca. INCIDENCE: In 12 of 28.